Title race could go the distance

Rye United will be out to avenge a 2-1 defeat to Pagham in October's reverse fixture at The Salts

Published:16:50Friday 30 March 2012

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Rye United’s manager considers it likely that the Sussex County Football League title race will go to the wire.

Scott Price can see the destination of top spot in Division One being decided on the final day of the season when current leaders Rye travel to second-placed Three Bridges.

He said: “It looks like it, but that depends if we win as well. Looking at their fixtures, I can’t see where they’re going to slip up.”

While Rye and Lancing - the third team in the title mix - have been fixtureless over the past week, Bridges have won 2-1 away to Crowborough Athletic on Saturday and 3-1 at AFC Uckfield on Tuesday night.

Those six points have taken the Crawley outfit above Lancing and within five of Rye with two games in hand, making the prospect of a final day title shoot-out increasingly likely.

Price gave his players a whole week off before resuming training last night (Thursday) ahead of the all-important trip to fourth-placed Pagham tomorrow.

Pagham were 2-1 winners in October’s reverse fixture at The Salts en route to a remarkable 13-match winning start. But the Lions have picked up just 24 points from 20 games since then and are now 17 off the pace.

Ben White signed from Sidley United on Wednesday having played three games in the previous four days and will go straight into the squad. Jordan Woodley is also set to make the trip along the A27.

Phil Rhodes says he is fit, but Price will probably give him another week to recover from his hamstring injury. If he does, he might drop Scott Ramsay back to the defence.